The Night Land eBook

MIRDATH THE BEAUTIFUL

“And I cannot touch
her face
And I cannot touch her hair,
And I kneel to empty shadows—­
Just memories of her grace;
And her voice sings in the
winds
And in the sobs of dawn
And among the flowers at night
And from the brooks at sunrise
And from the sea at sunset,
And I answer with vain callings
...”

It was the Joy of the Sunset that brought us to speech.
I was gone a long way from my house, walking lonely-wise,
and stopping often that I view the piling upward of
the Battlements of Evening, and to feel the dear and
strange gathering of the Dusk come over all the world
about me.

The last time that I paused, I was truly lost in a
solemn joy of the Glory of the Coming Night; and maybe
I laughed a little in my throat, standing there alone
in the midst of the Dusk upon the World. And,
lo! my content was answered out of the trees that
bounded the country road upon my right; and it was
so as that some one had said: “And thou
also!” in glad understanding, that I laughed
again a little in my throat; as though I had only
a half-believing that any true human did answer my
laugh; but rather some sweet Delusion or Spirit that
was tuned to my mood.

But she spoke and called me by my name; and when I
had gone to the side of the road, that I should see
her somewhat, and discover whether I knew her, I saw
that she was surely that lady, who for her beauty was
known through all of that sweet County of Kent as
Lady Mirdath the Beautiful; and a near neighbour to
me; for the Estates of her Guardian abounded upon
mine.

Yet, until that time, I had never met her; for I had
been so oft and long abroad; and so much given to
my Studies and my Exercises when at home, that I had
no further Knowledge of her than Rumour gave to me
odd time; and for the rest, I was well content; for
as I have given hint, my books held me, and likewise
my Exercises; for I was always an athlete, and never
met the man so quick or so strong as I did be; save
in some fiction of a tale or in the mouth of a boaster.

Now, I stood instantly with my hat in my hand; and
answered her gentle bantering so well as I might,
the while that I peered intent and wondering at her
through the gloom; for truly Rumour had told no tale
to equal the beauty of this strange maid; who now
stood jesting with so sweet a spirit, and claiming
kinship of Cousinhood with me, as was truth, now that
I did wake to think.

And, truly, she made no ado; but named me frank by
my lad’s name, and gave laughter and right to
me to name her Mirdath, and nothing less or more—­at
that time. And she bid me then to come up through
the hedge, and make use of a gap that was her own
especial secret, as she confessed, when she took odd
leave with her maid to some country frolic, drest
as village maids; but not to deceive many, as I dare
believe.